Lexus RX400h Temperature gauge is maxed out Inspection at your home or office.

Our certified mobile mechanics come to you 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

(89)

How A Diagnostic Works

Instantly book a certified mobile mechanic to come to you

Mechanic diagnoses the problem and quotes necessary repairs

Your vehicle is ready to go

Fair, upfront & transparent pricing for all services

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to you now.

Customer Ratings

(89)

Temperature gauge is maxed out Inspection Service

How much does a Temperature gauge is maxed out Inspection cost?

On average, the cost for a Lexus RX400h Temperature gauge is maxed out Inspection is $95 with $0 for parts and $95 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
2007 Lexus RX400hV6-3.3L HybridService typeTemperature gauge is maxed out InspectionEstimate$114.99Shop/Dealer Price$132.49 - $145.62
2008 Lexus RX400hV6-3.3L HybridService typeTemperature gauge is maxed out InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$112.52 - $125.67
2006 Lexus RX400hV6-3.3L HybridService typeTemperature gauge is maxed out InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$112.52 - $125.67
Show example Lexus RX400h Temperature gauge is maxed out Inspection prices

Your car’s engine needs to maintain the right operating temperature. As it runs, it creates immense amounts of heat. Coolant is circulated through the engine to absorb heat, and then it goes back to the radiator, where the radiator fan helps wick away the collected heat. Once cooled, the coolant is then sent back into the engine to do it all again. This should keep your engine in the normal operating temperature range, but if your temperature gauge is maxed out, there could be something seriously wrong.

How this system works:

The temperature gauge in your dash is connected to the car’s computer and from there to a temperature sensor on the engine block. The sensor measures the temperature of your car’s coolant (it uses resistance, but the actual resistance values can vary drastically from one automaker to another, and from one model to another).

The information read by the sensor is sent to the car’s computer, which adjusts the temperature gauge and also plays a role in the cooling system. Depending on the temperature level, the radiator fan will cycle on and off. As the temperature of your coolant rises, the needle in your temperature gauge should rise, moving from cold to normal. However, it may move all the way to hot in some cases.

Common reasons for this to happen:

  • Low Coolant: The first suspected cause of your temperature gauge maxing out is low coolant. If this occurs, your engine can overheat, and serious damage can result, up to and including cracking the block. However, if the engine isn’t actually hot (the temp gauge is maxed out but there’s no abnormal levels of heat from the engine), this isn’t the problem.

  • Broken Temp Gauge: If the temperature gauge is maxed out but the engine isn’t actually hot, then the problem may be a broken temperature gauge. The needle may be stuck in the hot range (this can happen after overheating the engine), or a stepper gear in the gauge may be damaged.

  • Failed Temp Sensor: If the temperature sensor on your engine block has failed, it may not send any information to the system, or it may send an erroneous signal, causing the gauge to rise without any actual overheating. It’s also possible that the sensor is shorting.

  • Failed Thermostat: If your car’s thermostat sticks in the closed position, coolant will not fully cycle through the engine, and it will begin to overheat. Your temperature gauge will rise quickly, particularly if it is very warm outside.

  • Cooling Fan Motor Failure: If the motor for your radiator cooling fan fails, it will not cycle on. This reduces the amount of airflow over the radiator, meaning that much of the heat is retained by the coolant, and it will not be able to absorb more from the engine.

  • Bad Fan Switch: Another reason your radiator fan might not be working is a bad fan switch. This switch controls the cycling of your radiator fan(s), and if it fails, it can cause overheating.

  • Air in System after Coolant Service: If you’ve recently had your engine coolant drained and refilled, it’s possible there’s air in the system. Air bubbles can form and block coolant from cycling through the engine, causing it to overheat.

What to expect:

A professionally trained mobile mechanic will come to your home or office to inspect your car’s temperature gauge and other components. The mechanic will then provide a detailed inspection report that includes the scope and cost of the necessary repairs.

How it's done:

The mechanic will inspect the coolant level of your vehicle, as well as the temperature sensor and other components in order to determine the cause of the gauge maxing out. It may be necessary to test drive the vehicle and verify if the engine is actually overheating, or if the problem lies with the sensor or the gauge.

How important is this service?

If your car is actually overheating, it’s a very serious problem that could quickly lead to engine-killing damage. Even if the problem is just a malfunctioning sensor or gauge, the issue is still serious, as you will have no means of observing the actual temperature of your engine coolant. One of our professional mechanics can inspect and repair your system.

Fast and easy service at your home or office

Backed by 12-month, 12.000-mile guarantee


Meet some of our expert Lexus mechanics

Real customer reviews from Lexus owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(89)

Rating Summary
83
4
0
0
2
83
4
0
0
2

Scott

21 years of experience
144 reviews
Scott
21 years of experience
Lexus RX400h V6-3.3L Hybrid - Radiator - San Diego, California
Seriously awesome service! Scott was friendly but got straight to the point. I left him be to work in my driveway while I conveniently continued to do my own work inside. Scott worked quickly and gave me a break down of the issue in plain English, which made me feel comfortable to ask questions. After replacing the radiator the next day, he didn't try to upsell me on anything else; just gave me helpful info and advice on keeping things running smoothly from here on out. I've already raved about YourMechanic to several friends and wouldn't hesitate to request Scott again!

Mark

11 years of experience
349 reviews
Mark
11 years of experience
Lexus RX400h V6-3.3L Hybrid - Oil Change - Portola Valley, California
Great job!! Thank you!

Grzegorz

41 years of experience
473 reviews
Grzegorz
41 years of experience
Lexus RX400h V6-3.3L Hybrid - Oil Change - Burlingame, California
Very Professional. Knew his stuff. Was honest and did a good job. Would highly recommend to anyone.

Blake

13 years of experience
114 reviews
Blake
13 years of experience
Lexus RX400h V6-3.3L Hybrid - Air Filter - Raleigh, North Carolina
Blake was on time both days he worked on my car. He was very competent with the work he performed and extremely helpful by providing answers to my questions. I would highly recommend him and would indeed request his services in the future.

Excellent Rating

(89)

Rating Summary
83
4
0
0
2
83
4
0
0
2
Number of Lexus RX400h services completed
979+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT Lexus MECHANICS
1100+
experts on our platform

Recent articles & questions

Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Glow Plugs & Timer
Common signs include unusual sounds coming from the car, difficulty starting the car, and the Glow Plugs Light turning on.
How Long Does a Brake Drum Last?
The front and rear brakes on a car take a lot of abuse over time. On most older vehicles, the front brakes will...
P0391 OBD-II Trouble Code: Camshaft Position Sensor "B" Circuit Range/Performance (Bank 2)
P0391 code means indicates that the problem is on the side of the engine which does not contain cylinder #1 due to bad sensors, or connectors.

On the driver side of my car the low beam headlight doesn't work. I checked all fuses and changed the bulb, but it still doesn't work

Hey there. When you say you checked the fuses (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-check-fuses-by-rocco-lovetere) & the relays, and everything was getting power, did you check the actual outlet for power? You can use a voltmeter to test the available voltage at the bulb socket...

Excessive oil loss with P0013 Camshaft OCV error code.

Your mention of the dealer putting in a cheap seal make me wonder if you had work done previously to the vehicle. These models have timing chains that tend to stretch as they wear and cause check engine lights, poor...

I have check engine light on and the code is showing p0266 ?

P0266 means that the fuel injector on cylinder number two does not pass the self tests that the Electronic Control Unit performs. It is often accompanied by a code P0302 for an engine misfire. It could be that you have...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (844) 997-3624 · hi@yourmechanic.com